stevens/lafferty

[dazzlingblade]

now i'm a huge fan of stevens, even said he was the signing of the season but he seems really off his game of late. thought he was poor last night. i'm not sure if it's a bit of tiredness, slight loss of confidence or a bit of complacency on his part but i think although lafferty is nothing better than steady it may be worth sticking him in for a couple of games. think enda needs a jolt and maybe that is the answer. i'd make that change for the next game and also start leonard. i really like lundstram and think he has performed very well in the face of a lot of unfair comparisons/criticism but i think we have to give leonard a game. see what he is about and how he links up with the other 2. delighted with the season so far but i think a couple of changes are needed to freshen things up and these are the 2 i'd look at

 

[Bladesman]

I take it Thomas can’t play wing back?

 

[Ricky]

Not happy at all with Stevens last night. We need more than what he offered. But Lafferty doesn't offer more. Maybe it's an area to look at. Still think Joe Riley would be worth signing on loan.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

He can’t cross. Unfortunately the way we’re playing dictates that we need our wings back to be able to do this. Probably an area we need to improve upon next season.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Stevens form has dipped and I'm suprised Laffs hasnt had a chance as a consequence.

 

[Rodley]

He’s a decent crosser in my opinion and still remember him and Baldock destroying Leeds at Bellend Road.

Think he’s got the ability, just been off the boil for a month or so which is understandable given the step up from L2. Needs to get the ball and take it down the sideline when the chance arises.

 

[Stretch]

now i'm a huge fan of stevens, even said he was the signing of the season but he seems really off his game of late. thought he was poor last night. i'm not sure if it's a bit of tiredness, slight loss of confidence or a bit of complacency on his part but i think although lafferty is nothing better than steady it may be worth sticking him in for a couple of games. think enda needs a jolt and maybe that is the answer. i'd make that change for the next game and also start leonard. i really like lundstram and think he has performed very well in the face of a lot of unfair comparisons/criticism but i think we have to give leonard a game. see what he is about and how he links up with the other 2. delighted with the season so far but i think a couple of changes are needed to freshen things up and these are the 2 i'd look at

Agree on all of that. Stevens has really dropped off for me lately and I would definitely give Lafferty another go. Lundstram continues to improve but it seems he will struggle to shake off the Coutts comparisons as some are convinced that his absence is the only reason we aren't winning.

As you say, a freshen up would be good anyway and we didn't bring these new lads in to twiddle their thumbs. Really looking forward to seeing Leonard in a Blades shirt; I don't know as much about Evans but I am sure he will bring something. Wilson looked lively as well when he came on so I wouldn't be surprised if the forward line gets a tweek in upcoming games. Just need Brooks back now and/or another one in and we have a wealth of options.

UTB

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I think it’s a very good shout for bringing Lafferty back in tbh , Stevens form has dipped last couple of months been caught out defensively on more than a few occasi9ns and really needs to work on his crossing , no players should have a ‘given’ in their position

 

[Tunstall Fred]

I think it’s a very good shout for bringing Lafferty back in tbh , Stevens form has dipped last couple of months been caught out defensively on more than a few occasi9ns and really needs to work on his crossing , no players should have a ‘given’ in their position

Lafferty has never let us down,if brought back into the team,he would do what he did last season,a solid job

 

[Carlton Blade]

Stevens is refusing to take responsibility for the final ball. Only willing to turn back and give it to O Connell or Duffy. With Bash being so awkward on the ball on the right its really hampering us

 

[blademark]

Agree on all of that. Stevens has really dropped off for me lately and I would definitely give Lafferty another go. Lundstram continues to improve but it seems he will struggle to shake off the Coutts comparisons as some are convinced that his absence is the only reason we aren't winning.

As you say, a freshen up would be good anyway and we didn't bring these new lads in to twiddle their thumbs. Really looking forward to seeing Leonard in a Blades shirt; I don't know as much about Evans but I am sure he will bring something. Wilson looked lively as well when he came on so I wouldn't be surprised if the forward line gets a tweek in upcoming games. Just need Brooks back now and/or another one in and we have a wealth of options.

UTB

I wasn't impressed with Wilson to be honest.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Lafferty has never let us down,if brought back into the team,he would do what he did last season,a solid job

Agree TF not the barnstorming wing back but more than capable of adding quality down the left & defensively better than Stevens

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Stevens has been off his game for games that now go into double figures.

Started the season well - form dipped. Lafferty cannot possibly be deemed as good enough for this level.

Is it 1 win in 11 now? He's part of the midfield problem and needs to re-discover early season potential.

UTB

 

[Asabanana]

Stevens defends well but he just will not look up before he crosses. The vast majority of the time he passes to nobody or hits the first man.

 

[Stretch]

I wasn't impressed with Wilson to be honest.

Not a lot came off for him but I thought he put himself about a bit and had plenty of energy. That's the least to expect though I suppose for a sub coming on late in the game. Felt sorry for Billy as well, that game was perfectly poised for him to come at 80 minutes and score or help get the winner.

Time will tell on Wilson anyway.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Not a lot came off for him but I thought he put himself about a bit and had plenty of energy. That's the least to expect though I suppose for a sub coming on late in the game. Felt sorry for Billy as well, that game was perfectly poised for him to come at 80 minutes and score or help get the winner.

Time will tell on Wilson anyway.

Wilson will look better when there's some room to play. There was no way we were getting in behind them last night

 

[Harry's Game]

The more I see Stevens the more I think he would make an excellent left back at this level.

However he ain’t a left wing back.

 

[Slim Man]

Give Thomas a try at wing back. After his performance at Ipswich he deserves a go.

Stevens has been very poor going forward for well over a month

 

[Snowman]

I wasn't impressed with Wilson to be honest.

Felt sorry for the kid. He got 20 minutes in a team he's never played in before in a system which is probably alien to him. There he was coming deeper and offering to take the ball to his feet for a turn or return and all he got was bypassed for the usual advances down the wings. He's another (like Lundstram) that will probably flourish in a different system (or at least if we acknowledge and play to his strengths).

 

[Iceybabey]

Stevens needs to get his arse in gear. We need someone on that side willing to take his man on, abit like Boldock and put a decent ball in.

 

[bonobo]

If Lafferty comes in for a few games, it won't hurt us. He is more likely to get in the box and have a shot at goals and we really lack goals from midfield. Although I am fairly confident about Stevens in the long run, this is an extended period, off his best and its a very testing position. Definately look to improve the competition in this position next season.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Stevens is refusing to take responsibility for the final ball. Only willing to turn back and give it to O Connell or Duffy. With Bash being so awkward on the ball on the right its really hampering us

Agree with you. Said this in another thread. The system works in as much as getting us into crossing positions but is coming up short when Basham, JOC or either wingback is delivering the cross. We need to work on switching the decoy so that it's Duffy et al with their head up on the goal line

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Stevens might just be totally knackered,playing wing back in our team/system involves a lot of running and work,Freeman and Baldock along with stand in Bash,have shared the other

 

[Fanny magnet]

now i'm a huge fan of stevens, even said he was the signing of the season but he seems really off his game of late. thought he was poor last night. i'm not sure if it's a bit of tiredness, slight loss of confidence or a bit of complacency on his part but i think although lafferty is nothing better than steady it may be worth sticking him in for a couple of games. think enda needs a jolt and maybe that is the answer. i'd make that change for the next game and also start leonard. i really like lundstram and think he has performed very well in the face of a lot of unfair comparisons/criticism but i think we have to give leonard a game. see what he is about and how he links up with the other 2. delighted with the season so far but i think a couple of changes are needed to freshen things up and these are the 2 i'd look at

Wholeheartedly agree .i actually think we need more cover on the left

 

[Ricky]

I'd be willing to try Thomas at LWB. He'd give us something very different.

He should at least be on the bench to come on for the LWB in exactly the sort of situation we were in last night.

 

[BridBladesman]

I wasn't impressed with Wilson to be honest.

FFS he’s just had his debut and already getting criticism for the 20mins he had...from what I saw he had more shots/efforts on goal than anyone else in that time

 

[Harry's Game]

Stevens needs to get his arse in gear. We need someone on that side willing to take his man on, abit like Boldock and put a decent ball in.

I can’t remember the last decent ball Baldock put in either.

However he does look a genuine wing back.

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

Agree with OP , stevens gone off the boil, he had a great chance for a good cross in the 1st half when he was put through on the left , he crossed it in low to no one when 2 men were in the box !

 

[Iceybabey]

I can’t remember the last decent ball Baldock put in either.

However he does look a genuine wing back.

The one for Donaldson that was tipped over by Wildsmith

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I can’t remember the last decent ball Baldock put in either.

However he does look a genuine wing back.

Neither wing back can cross, nor do they have any idea on what option to take when they get into a decent position. Baldock’s a bit better, but we miss Freeman’s attacking prowess in my opinion.